Pronunciation:

ES-moe-lol

Brand Names:

• Brevibloc
• Esmolol HCl

Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Classifications:

Therapeutic—

Cardiovascular Agent

Pharmacologic—

Beta-Adrenergic Blocker, Cardioselective

Uses of This Medicine:

Esmolol is used to control rapid heartbeats or abnormal heart rhythms. This medicine is also used to treat fast heartbeat and high blood pressure during surgery, after surgery, or during other medical procedures .

This medicine is a beta-blocker. It works by affecting the response to nerve impulses in certain parts of the body, like the heart. As a result, the heart beats slower and decreases the blood pressure. When the blood pressure is lowered, the amount of blood and oxygen is increased to the heart .

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription .

Before Using This Medicine:

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Children—

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of esmolol in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established .

Older adults—

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of esmolol in geriatric patients. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving esmolol .

Breast-feeding—

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Other medicines—

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Albuterol
• Ceritinib
• Clonidine
• Crizotinib
• Darunavir
• Diltiazem
• Dronedarone
• Fenoldopam
• Fexinidazole
• Fingolimod
• Formoterol
• Indacaterol
• Iohexol
• Lacosamide
• Levalbuterol
• Olodaterol
• Ponesimod
• Rivastigmine
• Salmeterol
• Siponimod
• Terbutaline
• Verapamil
• Vilanterol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acarbose
• Aceclofenac
• Acemetacin
• Acetyldigoxin
• Albiglutide
• Alfuzosin
• Alogliptin
• Amtolmetin Guacil
• Aspirin
• Bromfenac
• Bufexamac
• Bunazosin
• Canagliflozin
• Celecoxib
• Chlorpropamide
• Choline Salicylate
• Clonixin
• Dapagliflozin
• Deslanoside
• Dexibuprofen
• Dexketoprofen
• Diclofenac
• Diflunisal
• Digitoxin
• Digoxin
• Dipyrone
• Doxazosin
• Droxicam
• Dulaglutide
• Empagliflozin
• Ertugliflozin
• Etodolac
• Etofenamate
• Etoricoxib
• Exenatide
• Felbinac
• Fenoprofen
• Fepradinol
• Feprazone
• Floctafenine
• Flufenamic Acid
• Flurbiprofen
• Glimepiride
• Glipizide
• Glyburide
• Ibuprofen
• Indomethacin
• Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
• Insulin Degludec
• Insulin Detemir
• Insulin Glargine, Recombinant
• Insulin Glulisine
• Insulin Human Inhaled
• Insulin Human Isophane (NPH)
• Insulin Human Regular
• Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
• Ketoprofen
• Ketorolac
• Linagliptin
• Liraglutide
• Lixisenatide
• Lornoxicam
• Loxoprofen
• Lumiracoxib
• Meclofenamate
• Mefenamic Acid
• Meloxicam
• Metformin
• Metildigoxin
• Miglitol
• Morniflumate
• Morphine
• Morphine Sulfate Liposome
• Moxisylyte
• Nabumetone
• Naproxen
• Nateglinide
• Nepafenac
• Niflumic Acid
• Nimesulide
• Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
• Oxaprozin
• Oxyphenbutazone
• Parecoxib
• Phenoxybenzamine
• Phentolamine
• Phenylbutazone
• Piketoprofen
• Pioglitazone
• Piroxicam
• Pramlintide
• Pranoprofen
• Prazosin
• Proglumetacin
• Propyphenazone
• Proquazone
• Repaglinide
• Rofecoxib
• Rosiglitazone
• Salicylic Acid
• Salsalate
• Saxagliptin
• Sitagliptin
• Sodium Salicylate
• St John's Wort
• Sulindac
• Tamsulosin
• Tenoxicam
• Terazosin
• Tiaprofenic Acid
• Tolazamide
• Tolbutamide
• Tolfenamic Acid
• Tolmetin
• Trimazosin
• Urapidil
• Valdecoxib
• Vildagliptin

Other interactions—

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other medical problems—

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) or
• Heart block or
• Heart failure—Should not use in patients with these conditions .

• Diabetes or
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)—May cover up some of the signs and symptoms of these diseases, such as a fast heartbeat .

• Hypotension (low blood pressure)—May worsen this condition .

• Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal from the body .

• Lung disease (e.g. asthma, bronchitis, emphysema)—May cause difficulty with breathing in patients with this condition .

Proper Use of This Medicine:

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine is given through a needle placed into one of your veins .

Precautions While Using This Medicine:

Your doctor will only give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then you will be switched to another medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor .

Side Effects of This Medicine:

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Blurred vision

confusion

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position suddenly

increased sweating

unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

Itching of skin

numbness and tingling of face, fingers, or toes

pain in arms, legs, or lower back, especially pain in calves and/or heels upon exertion

pale, bluish-colored, or cold hands or feet

weak or absent pulses in legs

Rare

Blue lips and fingernails

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

changes in skin color

changes in vision

chest pain or discomfort

convulsions

coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum

decrease in frequency of urination

decrease in urine volume

delusions

dementia

difficult, fast, noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing

difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)

difficulty with speaking

feeling of warmth

feeling unusually cold

lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting

loss of bladder control

muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities

no heartbeat

pain, tenderness, or swelling of foot or leg

painful urination

paleness of skin

peeling of skin

redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest

shivering

shortness of breath

slow or irregular heartbeat

small clicking, bubbling, or rattling sounds in the lung when listening with a stethoscope

sudden loss of consciousness

swelling, redness, or burning of skin where the needle is placed

tightness in chest

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Dilated neck veins

extreme fatigue

irregular breathing

no blood pressure or pulse

stopping of heart

swelling of face, fingers, feet, or lower legs

unconsciousness

weight gain

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Hardening or thickening of skin where the needle is placed

nausea

Less common

Anxiety

dry mouth

headache

hyperventilation

irritability

nervousness

restlessness

shaking

sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

trouble sleeping

vomiting

Rare

Acid or sour stomach

belching

change in taste or bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste

difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)

discouragement

feeling sad or empty

heartburn

indigestion

lack of appetite

lack or loss of strength

loss of interest or pleasure

shoulder pain

stomach soreness, discomfort, upset, or pain

stuffy nose

tiredness

trouble concentrating

weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.